The dimly lit office of the Special Military Police headquarters was a stark contrast to the bustling streets outside. Stacks of paperwork teetered precariously on every available surface, their edges yellowed and curling from neglect. The air hung heavy with the acrid scent of ink and sweat, a testament to the long nights spent poring over reports and strategizing against the ever-present threat beyond the walls.
In the corner of the cluttered room, Evelyn Scarlet slumped over her desk, her head resting on her arms. Her raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, obscuring her face from view. The faint sound of distant noise from outside and the hustle of soldiers inside the building served as a constant reminder of the chaos that loomed beyond their fortified city. As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the dusty window, they cast a warm glow on her porcelain skin, a stark contrast to the coldness of her reality.
In her dreams, Evelyn soared beyond the confining walls, tasting the freedom she so desperately craved. The wind whipped through her hair as she imagined a world without the constant fear of Titans, a world where she could be more than just another cog in the military machine. But even in her dreams, the weight of her responsibilities and the mysteries of her past tugged at the edges of her consciousness.
The peaceful moment was shattered by a booming voice that echoed through the office. "Oi, Scarlet, Novak! Wake the hell up!" The harsh tone belonged to Nile Dox, the head of the MPs, who burst into the room with an air of urgency that immediately set Evelyn on edge.
Evelyn stirred, groggily lifting her head from her arms. Her piercing blue eyes, still clouded with sleep, narrowed as she focused on Nile's stern face. "You don't have to shout," she grumbled, her voice husky from disuse. She ran a hand through her tangled hair, trying to shake off the remnants of her dream.
Across the room, Jake Novak, Evelyn's partner, rolled off the couch where he had been sprawled. He hit the floor with a resounding thud, eliciting a pained groan. "Ouch," he whined, rubbing his head as he struggled to his feet.
Nile's frustration was palpable as he surveyed the disheveled pair. His eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms over his chest, exuding an aura of authority that demanded attention. "I've got an important case for you both," he stated, his tone brooking no argument. "A weapons dealer in Trost district is about to make a big sale, and we want you to bust them this morning."
Evelyn's mind raced to comprehend the situation, the fog of sleep slowly lifting. She straightened in her chair, her posture becoming more alert as the gravity of the assignment sank in.
Nile continued, his voice laced with a mixture of irritation and concern. "I want this done quietly, not like your last job where you set the damn warehouse on fire." His gaze bore into them, a silent warning against any further mishaps.
Evelyn bristled at the accusation, her pride stung. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the last vestiges of sleep from her vision. "Hey, that fire wasn't our fault," she protested, her voice gaining strength. "Plus, the only casualty was my leather jacket." The memory of her favorite jacket going up in flames still stung, but she pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Jake, still recovering from his abrupt awakening, groaned and fumbled to regain his composure. He stretched languidly, seemingly unperturbed by Nile's reprimand. "Aye, aye, sir," he drawled, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Don't worry, we got this. We are S rank officers, after all." His laid-back attitude was a stark contrast to Nile's tense demeanor.
Nile's eyes rolled skyward, a gesture that spoke volumes about his exasperation with the pair. "The deal is happening at a warehouse down by a bar called Opik in a few hours," he stated, his tone clipped and businesslike. With that final piece of information, he turned on his heel and strode out of the office, leaving Evelyn and Jake to prepare for their mission.
As soon as Nile's footsteps faded, Evelyn sprang into action. The urgency of their assignment had finally sunk in, dispelling the last traces of sleepiness from her system. She moved with practiced efficiency, gathering her gear from various corners of the cluttered office.
"Jake, get your ass in gear," she called over her shoulder, her voice tinged with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "We can't afford to screw this one up."
Jake, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, nodded in agreement. He moved with surprising grace for someone who had just tumbled off a couch, retrieving his equipment with fluid motions. "Right behind you, partner," he replied, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
As they prepared, Evelyn's mind wandered to the stark contrast between her current life and her past as an aristocrat. The weight of her ODM gear felt familiar now, a far cry from the restrictive corsets and flowing gowns of her youth. She glanced at Jake, who was casually checking his weapons, and marveled at how relaxed he could remain in the face of danger.
With their gear secured and weapons checked, Evelyn and Jake made their way out of the Military Police headquarters. The early morning air was crisp, carrying with it the promise of a new day and the weight of their responsibilities. They moved swiftly through the waking city, their steps purposeful as they headed towards the carriage that would take them to Trost.
As they settled into the carriage, the atmosphere grew thick with tension and anticipation. Evelyn's heart raced, a mixture of excitement and nerves coursing through her veins. She watched the familiar streets of the walled city pass by, the cobblestones blurring beneath the carriage wheels.
Jake leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxed despite the gravity of their mission. "So," he drawled, breaking the silence, "any bets on how this one's going to go down?"
Evelyn shot him a wry smile, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. "Let's just hope we can get through this without any unexpected explosions or fires," she quipped, her tone dry.
As the carriage rattled along, the chatter of citizens faded into a low hum, replaced by the pounding of Evelyn's heart. The familiar sights of the city gave way to the outskirts, and soon they were approaching the gates that would lead them to Trost district.
Evelyn's hand unconsciously moved to the hilt of her blade, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Jake. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, understanding the weight of the moment.
As they passed through the gates, leaving the relative safety of their home behind, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that this mission would be different. Something in the air, a tension she couldn't quite place, set her nerves on edge. Little did she know that this assignment would be the catalyst for events that would change her life forever, unraveling the mysteries of her past and challenging everything she thought she knew about herself and the world around her.
The carriage came to a stop at the outskirts of Trost district, and Evelyn and Jake disembarked, their senses immediately on high alert. The bustling marketplace that greeted them was a cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells, far more crowded than usual. Vendors hawked their wares with increased vigor, their voices carrying over the din of the crowd. The air was thick with the aroma of freshly baked bread and the pungent scent of spices, mingling with the underlying tension that seemed to permeate the very streets.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed as she scanned the throng of people, her trained gaze picking up on subtle details that others might miss. She noticed an unusual number of guards stationed around the area, their postures rigid and alert. The crowd itself seemed different, an undercurrent of nervous energy rippling through the masses.
"Jake," she whispered, leaning close to her partner to be heard over the noise, "something's off. There's more people here than normal. I bet that's why our target chose to do this deal in Trost today."
Jake nodded, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by a focused intensity. "Yeah, I see it too. The extra bodies make for good cover, but it also means more potential witnesses. We'll need to be extra careful."
They exchanged uneasy glances, both sensing that this operation might be more dangerous than they had initially thought. As they began to weave their way through the crowded streets, Evelyn felt the weight of her gear more acutely, hyper-aware of every movement and sound around her.
The pair moved with practiced ease, blending into the crowd as they made their way towards the warehouse where the deal was set to go down. They avoided direct eye contact with anyone, their movements casual yet purposeful. Evelyn's heart raced, adrenaline beginning to course through her veins as they drew closer to their target.
As they approached the warehouse, the crowd began to thin out, and the atmosphere grew more oppressive. The buildings in this area were older, their facades weathered and grimy. The warehouse itself loomed before them, a hulking structure of rusted metal and cracked concrete.
Evelyn's keen eyes spotted a high window that would serve as their entry point. She nudged Jake, gesturing silently towards their chosen route. He nodded in understanding, and they moved swiftly and silently towards the building.
With practiced agility, they scaled the wall, using the uneven brickwork as handholds. Evelyn's muscles strained as she pulled herself up, her breath coming in controlled, even pants. As they reached the window, Jake produced a small tool from his belt, working quickly to jimmy the latch open.
The window creaked softly as they eased it open, and they paused, listening intently for any sign that they had been detected. When no alarm was raised, they slipped inside, landing softly on the dusty floor of the warehouse's upper level.
The interior was dimly lit, with shafts of sunlight filtering through dirty windows and cracks in the roof. The air was thick with the scent of metal and dust, making Evelyn's nose wrinkle in distaste. Crates were stacked high throughout the space, creating a maze-like environment that would work to their advantage.
From their vantage point, Evelyn could see the arms dealer and his group gathered below. The dealer himself was a burly man with a scar running down the side of his face, his expression twisted with greed and malice. He was surrounded by a handful of thugs, their weapons visible and their eyes constantly scanning the area for any sign of trouble.
Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest, but her mind was clear, focused on the task at hand. She pulled out a smoke bomb from her belt, the weight of it reassuring in her palm. She turned to Jake, her eyes glinting with determination.
"Good, there's only a few of them," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll take out the ones on the left, you go right. Ready?"
Jake nodded, his usual smirk replaced by a look of intense concentration. "On your mark, partner."
Evelyn took a deep breath, steadying herself. With one swift motion, she hurled the smoke bomb towards the ground below. As it sailed through the air, time seemed to slow. The bomb hit the floor with a soft thud, and for a split second, nothing happened.
Then, chaos erupted.
The smoke bomb exploded in a billowing cloud of thick, gray smoke. Startled shouts echoed through the warehouse as the arms dealer and his men were engulfed in the haze. Evelyn and Jake wasted no time, dropping silently from their perch to the ground below.
Evelyn moved with fluid grace, her training kicking in as she engaged the first thug. The man barely had time to register her presence before she delivered a swift kick to his solar plexus, followed by a precise strike to his temple. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
To her right, she could hear the sounds of Jake's fists connecting with flesh, accompanied by grunts of pain from his opponents. The smoke swirled around them, providing cover as they systematically took down the arms dealer's men.
Evelyn ducked under a wild swing from another thug, using his momentum against him to flip him over her shoulder. He hit the ground hard, the air rushing from his lungs. Before he could recover, Evelyn's boot connected with his head, sending him into unconsciousness.
As the smoke began to clear, Evelyn spotted the arms dealer himself, attempting to flee towards a back exit. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between them, tackling him to the ground. They grappled for a moment, but Evelyn's training gave her the upper hand. She twisted his arm behind his back, eliciting a cry of pain as she pinned him face-down on the dusty floor.
"You're under arrest, asshole," Evelyn growled, her boot pressing firmly against the back of his head. "I would read you your rights, but I don't think you deserve any rights."
The dealer struggled beneath her foot, his eyes wide with fear as he realized the gravity of his situation. Jake appeared beside them, slightly out of breath but grinning with satisfaction. He produced a pair of handcuffs, the metal glinting in the dim light.
"Nice work, partner," Jake said as he cuffed the arms dealer. "Let's get this scumbag out of here."
As they began to lead the dealer out of the warehouse, the man's demeanor suddenly changed. His eyes darted wildly, and a look of desperate determination crossed his face. "I won't let you take me alive!" he snarled.
Before either Evelyn or Jake could react, the dealer jerked his head back violently, connecting with Jake's nose. Jake stumbled back, momentarily stunned, and his grip on the dealer loosened. In that split second, the man wrenched himself free and took off running.
"Fuck!" Jake cursed, blood trickling from his nose.
Evelyn didn't hesitate. She darted after the fleeing arms dealer, her legs pumping as she gave chase. The streets were still crowded, but Evelyn used her agility to her advantage. She leapt onto a nearby crate, using it as a springboard to reach the rooftops.
From her elevated position, she could see the dealer pushing his way through the throng of people. Evelyn's eyes narrowed as she plotted her course. She ran along the rooftops, her feet sure and swift as she paralleled the dealer's path.
After a few minutes of intense pursuit, Evelyn saw her opportunity. As the dealer rounded a corner into a less crowded alley, she made her move. With a graceful leap, she dropped down from the rooftop, landing directly in front of the startled man.
Before he could react, Evelyn grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back as she slammed him face-first into the nearby wall. The impact was jarring, and the dealer let out a pained grunt.
"Run off again, and I'll cut off your balls instead of breaking your arm," Evelyn hissed, her voice low and dangerous.
The man, despite his predicament, let out a strained laugh. "My arm's not broken-"
Evelyn cut him off by applying sudden, intense pressure to his arm. There was a sickening crack, followed by an agonized scream from the dealer. "Want to try that again?" Evelyn growled, her face inches from his.
Jake appeared at the entrance to the alley, slightly out of breath. "Looks like you had all the fun without me," he quipped as he drew near.
Evelyn rolled her eyes, maintaining her grip on the now whimpering dealer. "Next time, try not to let the bad guy headbutt you, yeah?"
As they secured the dealer once more, preparing to transport him to the local Military Police station, a commotion from the main street caught their attention. Cheers rang out through the crowds, accompanied by excited shouts.
"It's the scouts!"
"Humanity's Strongest Soldier is here!"
"I heard Captain Levi is like a whole brigade himself!"
Jake peered out of the alley, watching as a procession of scouts made their way down the main road. "Ah, that's why it was so busy today," he mused. "There's another scout expedition."
Evelyn felt a twinge in her chest at the mention of Levi's name. She rolled her eyes, trying to mask the conflicting emotions that surged within her. "Let's just get this shitbag to the Trost MP building and be done with this job," she said, her voice tight.
As they began to move through the crowd, half-dragging their captive, a familiar voice called out over the din. "Evie! My god, it's been too long!"
Evelyn turned to see Hange Zoë, the eccentric scout leader, rushing towards her with unbridled enthusiasm. The sight of her old friend brought a mix of warmth and apprehension to Evelyn's heart, a reminder of the life she had left behind and the complications that came with it.